Culinary Center

Located on a slope of the Cadí Moixeró Natural Park, the area was originally chosen as the site of the Asland cement factory (1904) because its proximity to resources (water & coal). The transportation difficulties between the site and the city of Barcelona led to the construction of a new industrial complex in the city of Barcelona (1917) which eventually led to the closing of the factory in Casellar de n'Hug.

Despite the historical interest of the previous architecture (a fine example of Catalan brick vaulted ceilings by Rafael Guastavino) and the magnificence of the surrounding landscape, the site is currently in an advanced state of decline. Due to the improvements in the transportation infrastructure in the recent years, an op- portunity for reactivating the complex emerges.

In the desire to preserve the former industrial structures, the old cement factory is reprogrammed with two synergistic activities: a culinary school and a factory museum. Both programs aspire to reactivate an area with enormous architectural and landscape potential.

The intervention focuses on two architectural elements: a floor and a walkway. On the one hand, the floor spreads like white liquid among the ruins, and provides the necessary infrastructure for the culinary school to function. At the same time, leaves the ceramic vaults and walls intact, preserving the essence of the existing factory. After the floor is implemented, the multiple levels of the factory (17) will be unified and reduced to (7), increasing the accessibility of the site. On the other hand, the walkway rises above the cooking school, providing a unique experience of seeing a culinary school functioning.

Guastavino Abandoned Cement Factory

The old cement factory is reprogrammed with two synergistic activities: a culinary school and a factory museum. Both programs aspire to reactivate an area with enormous architectural and landscape potential.

Located on a slope of the Cadí Moixeró Natural Park, the area was originally chosen as the site of the Asland cement factory (1904) because its proximity to resources (water & coal). The transportation difficulties between the site and the city of Barcelona led to the construction of a new industrial complex in the city of Barcelona (1917) which eventually led to the closing of the factory in Casellar de n'Hug.

Despite the historical interest of the previous architecture (a fine example of Catalan brick vaulted ceilings by Rafael Guastavino) and the magnificence of the surrounding landscape, the site is currently in an advanced state of decline. Due to the improvements in the transportation infrastructure in the recent years, an op- portunity for reactivating the complex emerges.

In the desire to preserve the former industrial structures, the old cement factory is reprogrammed with two synergistic activities: a culinary school and a factory museum. Both programs aspire to reactivate an area with enormous architectural and landscape potential.

The intervention focuses on two architectural elements: a floor and a walkway. On the one hand, the floor spreads like white liquid among the ruins, and provides the necessary infrastructure for the culinary school to function. At the same time, leaves the ceramic vaults and walls intact, preserving the essence of the existing factory. After the floor is implemented, the multiple levels of the factory (17) will be unified and reduced to (7), increasing the accessibility of the site. On the other hand, the walkway rises above the cooking school, providing a unique experience of seeing a culinary school functioning.